Born on Sept 13, 1917 in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, China, Francis Chiu Wing Cheung moved to Hong Kong during the Second World War, and later emigrated to Vancouver in 1978.
Our dad was a devoted husband to his wife Siu Chun Cheung and a dedicated father to his family of five children. He was not a saint nor an exceptional scholar, but just an ordinary hardworking person who loved his family. Patient and slow to anger, he just got things done without too many words. Being the sole provider of the family, he managed to support all five of us with food on the table and adequate formal education which was an expensive commodity at that time. More importantly, he was a good role model to us growing up. As a tailor he worked six to seven days a week, coming home late, close to midnight most of the time. One of my vivid memories is staying up late, waiting for him to come home, and sharing his food when he ate the dinner left for him. I could see how tired he was.
Our dad retired after moving to Canada. He enjoyed a few years of relaxing life with our mom without too many obligations. Unfortunately, our mother had diabetes and her health started to deteriorate. He would travel with her on Handydart from Coquitlam to Vancouver General Hospital three times a week for her dialysis treatments. The travel and daily care took its toll on a seventy-year old person. He was tired and got thinner. However, he was dedicated to looking after her to the date she passed away in 1998.
His daily routine changed after the passing of our mother. He would take the bus from Coquitlam to Chinatown almost daily, had breakfast, and returned home. He made new friends with the drivers, fellow passengers, restaurant servers, and regular patrons at the restaurant. All of them still remembered him as Uncle Cheung, a friendly, kind and benevolent person. Our family received the same good treatment from the restaurant owners and servers thanks to his relationship with them. Our dad continued to make that trip regularly by himself till he was 90.
His body might have started to weaken but his mind never deteriorated. He kept abreast of daily news through radio and television broadcasts. He would remind us about world events and places where we should not travel. My last conversation with him on the phone was a reminder by him to stay home because of Covid-19. Our dad remembered all the birthdays of his children and grandkids. He would give us the lucky money in red envelops a few days prior to our birthdays. He had never missed one birthday gift to us before his passing.
Uncle Cheung was notorious for organizing family dinners for the whole year. Our dad kept us as a family together. Many of us, including extended family, remember the gatherings he hosted for his birthdays and Chinese New Year. He would set all the dinner dates based on the calendar events and contacted the restaurants directly. Without his organization, I hope we will continue this tradition he began of staying close and celebrating dinners.
Thank you to a few special people who made our father’s life easier and better. We are forever grateful to Auntie Jang for providing us a residence in Hong Kong and lessening the burden on our dad’s shoulders to raise his family. Gordon and Teresa Lee brought him to Canada to start a healthy and enjoyable life after his retirement. Frankie and Mary Lee who looked after him for the last thirty years with continuous daily care until the date he passed away comfortably at home.
We are sorrowful for losing him but at the same time proud of the legacy he left behind. He is survived by 5 children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Francis Chiu Wing Cheung now rests in the arms of God and is reunited in heaven with my mother and many of our relatives who were there ahead of him.